The latest global happiness data shows Nordic countries still leading the way, but rising concerns over social media use and youth well-being are reshaping how happiness is measured worldwide.
For the ninth consecutive year, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world, according to the newly released World Happiness Report. The report, compiled using data from the Gallup and global partners, draws on surveys from more than 140 countries, assessing how people evaluate their own lives.
Trailing closely behind Finland are fellow Nordic nations Denmark and Iceland, reinforcing the region’s long-standing dominance in global well-being rankings. Researchers attribute their consistent performance to strong social support systems, low corruption, and high levels of trust in public institutions.
In a notable shift, Costa Rica climbed to fourth place as the highest position ever recorded by a Latin American country, thus highlighting the growing recognition of community-driven lifestyles and social cohesion as key contributors to happiness.
However, the report also reveals a concerning trend: happiness levels are declining in several parts of the world, particularly among young people. The United States, for instance, failed to break into the top 20 for the second consecutive year, while no English-speaking country featured in the top 10.
This year’s findings place a renewed spotlight on the role of digital life. Researchers point to social media use as a potential factor influencing declining well-being among younger populations. Spending five or more hours daily on social platforms is associated with lower life satisfaction, especially when usage is dominated by passive scrolling and algorithm-driven content.
Conversely, more active forms of engagement such as messaging and maintaining personal connections are linked to higher levels of well-being. Experts in Behavioural Science and Psychology suggest that how people use social media may be just as important as how much time they spend on it.
The rankings are based on key indicators including income, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Among these, social support remains the strongest predictor of overall happiness.
As global lifestyles continue to evolve, the report underscores a clear message: while economic stability matters, meaningful relationships, trust, and balanced digital habits are increasingly central to well-being in the modern world.
